16/09/2005

Bradford drugs gang sentenced

A gang of four drug smugglers were sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday.

The men – Michael Briggs, 52, from Lowmoore, Bradford; Russell Edward Crisp, 38, from Queensbury, Bradford; Ian Kirton, 41, from Mirfield, West Yorkshire and Carl Martin, 29, from Clayton, Bradford – were found guilty of attempting to smuggle 111kgs of heroin and 8.19 kgs of cocaine through the Port of Dover. The drugs had a combined street value of over £8 million.

Kirton was sentenced to 22 years in prison, while Crisp, Martin and Briggs received 20, 19 and 18 year sentences respectively.

Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams, commented: “Heroin and cocaine are pernicious drugs and their importation to the UK is a truly evil trade. Vast profits would have been made if this had succeeded and endless misery would have been caused to those addicted.”

The newly established Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office successfully prosecuted the case.

(KMcA/SP)

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